Leading independent law firm Brabners has completed a groundbreaking strategic investment, acquiring a 30% stake in Liverpool-based The Sustainability Academy in a move designed to extend its client offering as well as accelerate its growth ambitions.
The Sustainability Academy, founded in 2020 by Sara Wilcock and Gary Carney, delivers online training and consultancy to organisations seeking to define, achieve and report on their sustainability goals, by equipping them with the knowledge and tools required to take meaningful action on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. The Academy’s training is based on the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and provides IEMA-accredited programmes and bespoke ESG leadership development. Clients include household names such as Peel L&P and the Royal Air Force Cadets.
The investment marks another significant milestone for Brabners as it continues to extend its offering into complementary non-legal services. The businesses will now also form a close partnership aimed at working with Brabners clients – to help them integrate sustainability into their strategy, operations and regulatory reporting.
The Sustainability Academy has also joined Brabners’ growing True North network, which brings together more than 430 businesses, business leaders and other organisations, who have come together to play their part in unlocking the true potential of the Northern economy.
Robert White, CEO of Brabners, said: “Our position as a leading independent law firm enables us to make exciting investment decisions such as this, as well as to build meaningful partnerships with organisations that are aligned with our mission to make the difference for our clients, our people and the communities we serve.
“We are delighted to announce our partnership with The Sustainability Academy and this important milestone for our firm, as part of our strategy to extend our offering into complementary non-legal services, as a route towards strengthening our relationships with clients even further and opening up new routes to market for specialist, scalable services.”
Nik White, managing partner at Brabners, said: “What makes this opportunity even more compelling is that it aligns perfectly with our purpose, our values and our status as a B Corp. The Sustainability Academy is a business we know well and trust, with a proven track record in delivering real impact by working alongside sustainability directors and ESG-conscious leadership teams. By investing now, we are able to support the Sustainability Academy team to scale, and to position the business and our partnership at the heart of the sustainability agenda – which will only become more important for our clients in the years ahead.”
Sara Wilcock, co-founder of The Sustainability Academy, said: “As a client of the firm, Brabners has supported our business since day one and so to now welcome them as an investor and strategic partner is a huge vote of confidence in our business. This partnership gives us the opportunity to grow faster, reach more organisations and to continue to develop high-impact training and consultancy at pace that – ultimately – helps businesses turn sustainability goals into impactful action.
Gary Carney, co-founder of The Sustainability Academy, added: “Aligning our mission with a purpose led organisation like Brabners will allow us to increase the impact we make. We are looking forward to building our relationship as a partner in action as we continue to grow and scale both businesses.”